Sinclair Message Hits a New Low

Sinclair Message Hits a New Low

Article excerpt

Here's a sad truth of Trump-era America: The toxicity pervading national politics is so extreme right now that one can't help starting to get numb to it all. But just when you think you've lost the ability to be shocked, along comes TV station owner Sinclair.

Last week, CNN reported that the company is compelling local news anchors across its massive network of 173 affiliates to read an "anchor-delivered journalistic responsibility message" on air in the coming months with "maximum reach and frequency."

If that language isn't Orwellian enough, here's an excerpt from the message: "Unfortunately, some members of the national media are using their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control exactly what people think. ... This is extremely dangerous to our democracy."

It's hard to understate how disingenuous and, frankly, evil Sinclair is being in distributing this kind of agitprop. The company itself is the one guilty of bias and weakening democracy by exploiting its anchors to undercut the credibility of competitors who are vital to keeping the public informed. …